Clamp comb



Aug. 12,1947.

J. E. M ARTHUR CLAMP COMB Filed July 21, 1945 it!!! ii 4 INVENTOR JAMES E. MCARTHUI? v ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 12, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to clamp combs and more particularly to hair combs having cooperating movable and immovable teeth.

Among the objects of the invention is to cause the teeth of the comb to grip the hair and hold the comb and the hair in adjusted position.

Another object is to provide an aid to hair dressers in'the preliminary arrangement of locks of hair for permanent waving, curling and thermo-setting human hair.

A further object is to simplify the structure and mode of operation of mechanical combs for utility or decoration, in arranging coiffures.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses. In the specification and the accompanying drawings the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. But it is to be understood that it is not limited to this form; because it may be embodied in modifications within the spirit of the invention, as defined in the claims following the description.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a clamping comb constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view from above of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in vertical section On the line III-III, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detail in rear elevation, of the spring clamping element.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of the invention.

In detail the structure illustrated in the drawings, referring first to Fig. 2, comprises the arcuate back bow I, having the inwardly flanged top and bottom edges 2, 3.

The stationary teeth 4 are integral with the grid 5 confined within the flanged edges 2, 3. This strip has a series of interspaced openings 6 therethrough, between the stationary teeth 4.

The movable teeth 1 project through these openings and are integral with the sliding plate 8, that is guided in the longitudinal grooves formed in the edges 2, 3.

The movable teeth 1 are normally forced against the stationary teeth 4 by the expansion of the spring 9, located at the mid-portion of the back bow I, on the longitudinal axis of the plate 8. The opposite ends of this spring engage the lug I on the plate 8 and the transverse lug I I on the grid adjacent a stationary tooth, respectively. These springs may be duplicated at intervals to increase the tension.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, the manual grips I2, I3 of the grid 5 and the plate 8 project beyond the opposite ends of the back bow I respectively. The grip I3 remains stationary, while the grip I2 is slidable-relatively thereto, for overcomingthe tension of thespring 9 and-separating the-movable teeth I from the stationary teeth 4 The invention operates substantially as follows: The grips I2; I3 are grasped between the thumb andforefinger of the operator and pressed toward each other. This overcomes the tension of the spring 53 and separates the teeth equidistant from each other. The teeth are then inserted into the hair against the scalp and pushed downwardly to the desired position. When the grips i2, I3 are released the spring expands and pushes the movable teeth against the stationary teeth and securely fixes the comb in the desired position, due to frictional clamping action of the teeth against the mass of hair therebetween. The comb is removed or readjusted by reversing the action by pressure applied to the grips I2, I3, as described.

The comb is assembled by passing the teeth 1 on the plate 8, through the openings 6 in the grid 5, until the plate and grid lie in parallel relation. Thus assembled they are pushed endwise into the back bow I. The grid 5 being slightly wider than the plate 8, the latter has a free longitudinal sliding action within the bow I, relative to the grid 5. The grip I2 is then cemented to the end of the plate 8.

The spring 9 may be assembled on the lugs I0, II before the insertion of the grid and plate 5, 8 in the back bow I, or it may be so assembled after the insertion.

For professional use, where ornamentation is not a consideration, the ends 251m 320 may be formed on the grid 5 as shown in Fig. 5, where they will perform the same function as the back bow I.

The present design of the invention is adaptable to fabrication in molded plastics, or die stamping in metal by appropriate modification of the dimensions of the material desired.

In plastic or metal there is sufiicient flexibility to permit the back bow I being forced over the beveled edges of the grid 5, instead of assembling by sliding this grid 5 and plate 8 endwise into the bow I, as above described. If assembled by snapping the back bow onto the grid 5, the grip I2 can be made integral with the plate 8.

The grips I2, I3 and the front of the back bow I, may be ornamented with jewels or otherwise decorated for personal adornment.

Having thus described this invention what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A clamp comb comprising a grid having lateral openings therethrough; stationary teeth on said grid adjacent said openings; a. slidable plate longitudinally guided within said grid and having teeth thereon projecting through said openings in the grid in movable relation to said stationary teeth on the grid; and spring means interposed between said grid and plate and normally forcing said grid teeth and plate teeth together. 2. A clamp comb comprising a grid having lateral openings therethrough; stationary teeth.

on said grid adjacent said openings and in ofiset relation to and parallel with the plane of said grid; a plate longitudinally slidable and guided within said grid and having offset teeth project ing through said openings in the grid and aligning with said stationary teeth on the grid; and spring means interposed between said grid and plate and normally forcing said teeth together.

3. A clamp comb comprising a grid having longitudinal guides on its opposite edges with interspaced lateral openings through said grid; stationary teeth on said grid adjacent said openings and in offset relation to and parallel with the plane of said grid; a plate longitudinally slidable in said guides on the grid and having offset teeth projecting through said openings in the grid and aligning with said stationary teeth; :and a spring interposed in said plate between a tooth on the grid and a tooth on the plate and normally urging the teeth on the plate against the teeth on the grid. 7

'4. A clamp comb comprising a grid having overhanging longitudinal edges with interspaced lateral openings through said grid; stationary teeth integral with said grid adjacent the ends of the openings in said grid and having their edges in ofiset relation to and parallel with the plane of said grid; a plate longitudinally slidable within the overhanging edges of said grid and projecting beyond one end of said grid and having thereon ofiset teeth projecting through said openings in the grid and aligning with said stationary teeth on the grid; and .a spring interposed in said plate between a tooth on the grid and a tooth on the plate and normally urging the teeth on the plate against the teeth on the grid JAMES E. MCA THURI REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Scharer Aug. 1,-l91 1 

